Desired start date: 01/03/2024
Duration of the mission: 1 year
Location: Juba
ABOUT US
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI’s interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in some twenty countries, the SI teams – 2500 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers – intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.
ABOUT THE MISSION
SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL (SI) has been operating in South Sudan since 2006, conducting activities in emergency and post emergency context, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, including IDP camp settings. Its expertise in running emergency WaSH intervention is highly acknowledged by all WaSH actors and donors. Furthermore, SI is implementing longer term WASH and FSL activities in multiple locations.
Since the onset of the crisis in 2013, hundreds of thousands of people have been fleeing the conflict in South Sudan and an estimated 8.4 million are in need of humanitarian assistance as of 2023. Severity of food insecurity continues to grow due to compounding shocks amplified by intensified sub-national violence, three consecutive years of widespread flooding, localized dry spells, and an ongoing protracted macro-economic crisis with heightened poverty and vulnerability (more than 80% of the population is reportedly below the poverty line).
In April 2023, fighting broke out in Khartoum, Sudan, spreading to other parts of the country in the following days and weeks, and resulting in mass displacement from Sudan to Egypt, Chad, Ethiopia, Libya, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. By end of 2023, more than 480 000 people had reportedly displaced to South Sudan, the vast majority of entering through the Joda/ Wunthow border point in Renk County, Upper Nile State, the northernmost border crossing in South Sudan. Of those crossing, 82% were South Sudanese returnees, many of whom fled war in then-southern Sudan prior the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, or war in South Sudan between 2013 and 2018.
Following the influx of displaced people to Upper Nile and Unity States, Solidarités International mobilized an emergency response. The two SI emergency teams – responding to natural disasters, epidemics, and population displacement – were deployed early on to participate in the coordination and organization of the response. In Upper Nile, SI already had an office in Malakal (where one of the deployable team is based) and a field-office in Kodok. Two additional field offices in Renk and Melut have been set-up to support the ongoing response to the Sudan Crisis and to ensure constant monitoring and rapid access to affected communities. SI’s long term presence in Upper Nile enables the organization to ensure proper coordination with other key players on the ground in order to provide a high-quality response and avoid duplication of efforts.
The second national emergency team usually based in Juba, has been deployed to Unity State since May 4th to conduct Rapid Needs Assessment and to lead the emergency response in Rotriak and Pariang displacement sites.
SI is currently working to scale-up its response in both Upper Nile and Unity by recruiting additional team members to reinforce its capacities over the coming months.
The activities implemented are in the sectors of WASH, FSL, Shelter, RRM and Emergency Preparedness Response.
In 2023, the mission’s estimated budget is around USD 5+ million, and there are 100+ employees.
ABOUT THE JOB
GENERAL OBJECTIVES:
The Country Director is Solidarités International’s official representative in a country. He / She oversees the smooth running of the mission. He / She proposes mission strategy, according to the geopolitical and humanitarian context, and ensures its implementation once it has been validated. He / She monitors projects, ensuring that they are progressing in accordance with the Solidarités International charter and complying with internal and contractual procedures. He / She mobilizes the material and financial resources necessary for the programs to run effectively and supervises the administration of these resources. He / She coordinates the teams in place and ensures their security on the mission. He / She is the direct liaison for Solidarités International’s HQ.
Security
Serve as main focal point for the mission for critical incidents.
Liaise with security national authorities and other stakeholders (INGOs, INSO, NGO Forum, UN).
Ensure security procedures and analysis are regularly updated.
Brief new staff on security context of the country and the mission.
Maintain overview of the security context by studying the daily, weekly, and quarterly security analysis from relevant organizations (INSO, NGO Forum).
External outreach
Serve as main point of contact for strategic decisions with donors, UN, NGO Forum or other NGOs
Keep awareness of relevant donors and their funding priorities
Maintain regular communication with the donor
Annual strategy
Lead the exercise of defining the annual strategy
Ensure the application of the strategy throughout the new proposals
Strategic management
Lead the Coordination team in adhering to the strategy as well as maintaining the sufficient functional setup of the whole mission
Maintain overview of the security and funding context of the country as well as situation of the mission (financial, HR, logistics) to inform the strategic decisions
Coordination within the mission
Lead the coordination between coordination departments and bases through regular meetings with coordinators
Ensure that mission monitoring tools are updated and shared on regular basis
Keep an overview of the gaps and needs in multiple locations and departments
Coordination with HQ
Ensure that desk is informed of the situation of the mission through regular updates and sharing of the monitoring tools as well as regular calls with desk manager
Request approvals from HQ on decision requiring decision above his / her level
Team management
Ensure regular meetings with the directly managed team
Appraisal of team members.ring relevant documentation for external audits and audit report archiving
PRIORITIES ON THE 2-3 FIRST MONTHS:
Oversee the implementation of the annual strategy 2024
Reinforce the security management / contingency planning of the mission
Dynamic analysis of the context to identify new potential needs / relevant areas of intervention
Consolidate the recent scale-up of the mission to ensure programmatic quality and process compliance
Sustain and further develop SI’s funding strategy in South Sudan and identify new donors to diversify the funding portfolio
Support the Senior Management Team in their coordination roles
Regularly represent SI with donors, local authorities, NGOs J17and Coordination forum
YOUR PROFILE
Education / academic background:
Master Degree in humanitarian/development studies, social sciences, management or other related discipline.
5 years experience in the humanitarian sector
1-2 year(s) on a similar position
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Excellent communication, organizational and prioritization skills and the ability to multi-task and support and/or fill multiple positions at one time.
High management abilities, and particularly team management skills and capacities to provide distance technical support.
Significant knowledge and experience of grant writing and management for major institutional donors, including EU, BHA/USAID, ECHO, UN Agencies (UNHCR, UNICEF, etc.) and pooled funding mechanisms, such as SSHF.
Ability, acquired through experience, to represent the organization and negotiate and defend SI’s interests with a diverse range of government officials, departments and ministries, civil society organizations, and other international organizations professionally and appropriately.
Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members.
Proven ability to deal with donors and operational partners.
Technical knowledge in SI sectors of expertise (WASH, FSL, Shelter) is an asset
TRANSVERSAL SKILLS
Significant experience of building and supervising large and culturally diverse teams of expatriate and national staff, and interest in capacity building of people.
Strong initiatives and improvisation capacities.
Capacity to adapt and show organizational flexibility
Good stress management.
Important flexibility and adaptability.
Experience working with SI (or a similar organization) is an asset
Prior experience in South Sudan would be considered as an asset
Language: Fluent in English, written and spoken. Arabic is an asset.
SI WILL OFFER YOU
A salaried position:
According to experience, starting from EUR 2860 gross per month (2600 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 700.
SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.
Breaks: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every three months (with a USD 850 break allowance, allocated by Sl). To these breaks periods, SI grants one (1) additional rest day per month worked.
Insurance package: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which refunds all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.
LIVING CONDITIONS:
Individual, comfortable room in the guesthouse, with electricity 24/7.
Internet and Phone network available
Restaurants and international food are available
Living conditions in Juba are very good with an easy access to a wide range of restaurants, cafes…
Security risks are low, and restrictions are very limited.
However, when going on the field bases, living conditions are more basic, with fewer opportunities for socialization, as well as some individual movements’ restrictions. Security levels vary according to the different geographical locations and changes of context.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Do you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letter!
Please note that CV-only applications will not be considered, and that the vacancy may close before the deadline.
Thank you for your understanding.
To learn more about Sl: www.solidarites.org
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Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and combat any type of abuse – any act of sexual exploitation, abuse and/or harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or its collaborators and collaborators, harm to persons and/or property, fraud, corruption, undeclared conflict of interest, financing of activities violating human rights – which could be perpetrated within the framework of its interventions. SI has zero tolerance for any type of abuse, particularly acts of SEAH.
Solidarités International is a fair employer that fights all forms of discrimination. SI will never ask for any compensation for participating in a recruitment process.
Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.
Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.